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The Unseen War

The Church That Threatens The Enemy

November 27, 2016 • Pastor Allen Bonnell

The Church That Threatens The Enemy Acts 16 1. The Spirit directs the church. “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:4a The church is to be filled with the Spirit. The church is to walk in step with the Spirit. “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 6:24-25 2. The devil distracts the church. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 Division Discouragement Dependence “Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.” Act 19:14-16 Details Doctrine 3. The Lord delivers the church “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32

Suit Up And Fight

November 20, 2016 • Pastor Allen Bonnell

Suit Up, and Fight! Pick it up, put it on, practice it! 1. Apply the truth of God. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:13-14 What lie are you believing about yourself?________________ What truth will you now stand on? ______________________ 2. Rest in Jesus’ righteousness. “But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile.” Romans 3:21-22 3. Receive His peace. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:6-9 What care do you need to give to God right now _________________. 4. Believe what God has said. “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” Mark 9:23-25 I believe, __________________ 5. You are my deliverer. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” Psalm 32:7 Where do you need to declare God’s deliverance? _________________ 6. Listen to the Spirit. 7. Pray without ceasing. “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” Psalm 51:17

Crossing The Sin Line

November 13, 2016 • Dr. Chuck Lawless

“Crossing the Sin Line” Genesis 3:1-15 1. The enemy engages us in conversation. 2. The enemy wants us to ignore God’s Word. 3. The enemy directs us to what we’re missing. 4. The enemy wants us to hide. 5. The enemy wants us to blame someone else. The good news: the enemy will not win!

Healthy Relationships In A World At War

November 6, 2016 • Pastor Allen Bonnell

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.” Ephesians 6:10-14a 1. Our battle is not against one another. a. What the enemy can do. “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” 1 John 5:19 “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” 1 Timothy 4:1 “For we wanted to come to you--certainly I, Paul, did, again and again--but Satan blocked our way.” 1 Thessalonians 2:18 b. What the enemy can’t do. “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” John 17:15 “We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.” 1 John 5:18 “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” Colossians 1:13 2. Our weapons are not of this world. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Ephesians 4:26-27 a. Truth proclaimed. “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:32,36 “The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” 1 John 3:8 b. Thoughts captive. “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:3 “Forgive” ‘in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. ‘” 2 Corinthians 2:11 “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:30-32

The Unseen War

October 30, 2016 • Pastor Allen Bonnell

1. What is spiritual warfare? It is unseen, but it is real. It is a war, but it is one already won. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:8-9 “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 2. Who is the enemy? He is a created being. He is an angel. “No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.” 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 He has a strategy. He wants to destroy you. The devil is a liar and an accuser “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44 3. What is God’s role? God is our strength and our strong tower. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-11 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 God will banish the enemy forever.  And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelation 20:10